Crystallization behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone)/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction methods were used to investigate the isothermal crystallization behavior and crystalline structure of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites. PCL/MWNT composites were prepar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Polymer physics, 2006-02, Vol.44 (3), p.598-606
Main Authors: Wu, Tzong-Ming, Chen, Erh-Chiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
activation energy
Applied sciences
Composites
crystallization
Exact sciences and technology
Forms of application and semi-finished materials
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
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Summary:Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction methods were used to investigate the isothermal crystallization behavior and crystalline structure of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites. PCL/MWNT composites were prepared via the mixing of a PCL polymer solution with carboxylic groups containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (c‐MWNTs). Both Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated that carboxylic acid groups formed at both ends and on the sidewalls of the MWNTs. A transmission electron microscopy micrograph showed that c‐MWNTs were well separated and uniformly distributed in the PCL matrix. DSC isothermal results revealed that introducing c‐MWNTs into the PCL structure caused strongly heterogeneous nucleation induced by a change in the crystal growth process. The activation energy of PCL drastically decreased with the presence of 0.25 wt % c‐MWNT in PCL/c‐MWNT composites and then increased with increasing MWNT content. The result indicated that the addition of c‐MWNT to PCL induced heterogeneous nucleation (lower total activation energy) at a lower c‐MWNT content and then reduced the transportation ability of polymer chains during crystallization processes at a higher MWNT content (higher total activation energy). A correlation between the crystallization kinetics, melting behavior, and crystalline structure of PCL/c‐MWNT composites was also discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 598–606, 2006
ISSN:0887-6266
1099-0488
DOI:10.1002/polb.20722